Molder&#39;s flask



Nov.16, E948. A. B. ASTAcsNQLA 2,453,893

MOLDERS FLASK Filed March 27, 1946 Patented Nov. 16, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v I 2,4.'a893 y ,f5 I

MOLDERS FLASK Angelo B. Castagnola, Oakland, Calif.

Application March 27, 1946, Serial No. 657,594

This invention relates to molders flasks, and particularly to improvement-s in the kind of molders flasks generally referred to as snap flasks-because they include means to enable them to open quickly or to snap to an open position when itis desired to remove their contents.

The conventional molders flask is of rectangular shape and `its side walls are separable at at least two corners to enable to to be released from the sand mold form within it. `In snap flasks springs are generally employed at the corners of separation to effect opening of the flask and clamp means are employed for opposing spring action and for holding the flask in closed position. The clamps and spring mechanisms usually project diagonally from the flask Corners so that they prohibit resting the flask on one of its sides as it is being turned over or otherwise handled in use. The term flask as used herein refers to either of the parts of a flask, which comprises both cope and drag, since both parts are similar in construction and embody the same means for facilitating quick opening.

My invention provides a flask with quick opening means arranged to leave two opposite faces of the flask entirely clear of any obstructions or projections so that the flask can be rested on a support and one end forced against an abutment, the other end raised and the flask rolled over vfor ,removing the flask from the mold-inverting the cope and drag to place the component parts of the mold in their upright pouring vpositionwithout any, danger of releasing the opening means during this inverting operation, or without requiring any careful handling by rolling the flask over on one corner, instead of broadly throughout the length of the face of the flask as is proper and safe with my invention.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide a flask with quick opening means which leaves two sides of the flask free of all obstructions and projeotionsso that the flask may be turned over as readily as a plain flask.

Second, to provide a quick opening means for melders flasks which is simple in construction and quickly and easily operated.

Third to provide a quick opening means for flaskswhich is easily adjustable and which will maintain its adjustment.

Fourth, to provide a quick opening means for the diagonally related corners of a flask and which is completely confined', including the operating members, to two sides of the flask whether 2 in closed or open position, whereby the other two sides of the flask are unobstructed and free of projections for easy turning ofthe flask.

Fifth, to provide a quick opening means as outlined Which cannot be accidentally released vwhen the flask is turned over. Y

Sixth, to provide a quick opening means as outlined which is quicklyand easily adjusted at Will and in which parts subject to` wear are easily and quickly replaceable. Y

yIn describing the invention reference will be madeV to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a flask embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a, fragmentary side elevationof and partly shown in section.

Fig. e is a face view ofthe actuating member.

Fig. 5 is a face View of the actuating cam.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of a flask drawn to a reduced scale showing the clearance afforded by the invention, for rapid and easy turning of the flask.

The invention 'consists of a special corner structure for each of two opposite corners I0 and iI of a flask I2 in which one side Wall I3 has a diagonal outward and yrearward projection I4 with the inner face I5 of the one side extending in line to a point I6 intermediate the width of the adjacent side wall II and thence projecting diagonally parallel with the diagonal edge I4 and terminating in a clamp face I8 angularly related to the sides I5 and Il. Theterminal end of the adjacent side Wall conforms to the diagonal projection and includes aprojection flange member I9 the outer end ofY which aligns with the side' I4 of the diagonal projection.

A clamp boss 20 is formed on the forward end of theV diagonal projection and a pair of -jpilot bosses 2I are located respectively above andbe-d low the boss 20 as shown. Clamp'and pilot Abosses 22 and 23 are formed on the flange member I8 in axial alignment with the bosses 20 and 2l.rv

Threadedly secured in each pilot boss 23` is a pilot which has a threaded portion 24 extending from an enlarged portion 25l providing asshoulder or seatY 26 for positive alignment of the DilOt. The pilot 25 slidably operates in a bore 21 in the boss 2I and is backed up by a compression spring 28 which, through the pilot, urges opening of the flask to the degree indicated in Figs. 1 an'd';y and thereby forms an essential part of the' quick opening means. *j v The clampingv z neans for closing the' flask and Fie. 2

`3| having an anchoring means such as a yoke 32 extending from one side to cooperate with an anchoring device such as a rib 33. The cam member has an axial bore 34 for the stud 35 constitutingthe pivot member. This cam member has cam surfaces 36 and 31 diametrically related in the top face.

Rotatably supported on the pivot member is a flask closing element 38 provided with an operating handle 39, and having a pair of sector teeth 40 and 4I projecting from theinner face to cooperate with the cam surfaces 36 and 31 and with a substantially flat face 42 at the top of the rise to provide a holding area. A nut 43 is adjustable on the pivot member 35 for suitable adjustment of the camkaction, and suitable means is providedy for securing the nut in adjusted position, such as a washer 44 having an inwardly projecting key 45 to fit the keyway 46 so that operation of the lever 39 will not act to loosen the nut or change its adjustment.

The pilots 25 keep the two sections of the flask in perfect alignment, and the springs 21 acting on the ends of the pilots urge the flask to open While the nut 43 limits opening to the extent indicated at 41, just sufficient to free the mold. When `the flask is open, the teeth 4l are located at the bottom 48 of the cam surfaces with the springs maintaining that position, when the levers 39 are in one position.

For making the mold, the levers are moved to their other position which through the teeth 40 and 4| in cooperation with the cam surfaces 36 and 31 force the edges I5 and l1 of the flask together, closing the gap 41, with the teeth riding finally on the almost at surface 42 where there will be no tendency for the members 40 and 4l to ride back down the inclined cam surfaces, thus effectively holding the flask closed.

The quick opening means including its operating lever is completely confined to one side of the ask, at no time ever projecting beyond the plane-49 of the other side I3, so that the adjacent sides1`|3 are entirely unobstructed, whereby the lower edge of either side i3 can be abutted againstany suitable abutment 50. l The back edge l' can then be raised and the flask turned over without the necessity of guarding against accidental release of the ask corners.

To release the mold it is merely necessaryto flip the handle 39 suilclent to move the cam teeth off of the high level spot, and the `slzyririgs 21 will force the flask open to the extent as definie; by the adjustment of the nut, as indicated at .f

In case of wear, the `cam can be quickly replacedby removing the nut, washer and handle, and merely slipping the old cam olf and replacing it with a new one since no securing means is necessary, the rib or other suitable stop being all that is required. The handle with its cam teeth are likewise replaceable. In case of wear of the teeth or cam surfaces so that the flask does not .close tight, a slight adjustment of the nut 43 is all that is necessary, the nut having a relatively tight t on the-screw thread to prevent its vgetting out of adjustment through vibration or jars.

It will be noted, as indicated in Fig. 6,',that

-one`offthese quick-release clamp units isY -provided for each of two diagonally related corners of each section of the ask, and that they ar completely confined to respectively opposite sides of the flask leaving the other two sides entirely free of projections or obstructions of any kind, and with the other two sides functioning as guards for the clamp units so that they cannot be accidentally released when the respective sections, such as cope and drag are turned over.

The action is rapid and almost effortless; just a slight movement of the lever 39 causes the clamp to snap off w'hile the springs acting on the pilots force t'he flask corners to spread.

The collar 26 limits the closing of the flask to maintain predetermined clearance so that foreign bodies entering or within the space 41 cannot prevent proper closing. 'I'his collar also functions as a gauge for adjustment of the clamping means.

The cam for the clamping means has continuing surfaces -of different inclinations, the closing portion 48 having a sharp rise thence continuing at 42 intoa rather flat rise and in turn terminating in ythe fiat surface 52 between the cam surfaces. f

rI lhe almost at portion 42 has just enough inclination to compensate for slight wear on the clamping elements and yet not enough to cause the cam member 38 to ride iback down the inoline, being considerably less than the angle of friction between the surface 42 and the tooth 4I. It therefore assures tight closing of the flask irrespectiverof a predetermined amount of wear on the various thrust surfaces.

I claim:

1. A molders ask or the like comprising a rectangular frame made of two parts separable at diagonally opposed corners of the rectangle, resilient means urging separation of said parts, and clamping means operable to oppose the resilient means to bring said parts into yclosed relationship, said resilient means and clamping means being disposed outside the rectangular frame but entirely between the planes defined by. two opposite sides of the rectangular frame whereby the frame may be supported on either of said sides on a plane surface.

2. A molders ask or the like comprising a rectangular frame made of two parts separable at diagonally opposed corners, each of said corners comprising opposed plane surfaces parallelto the plane of one side of the rectangle and opposed plane surfaces parallel to the direction of separating movement and contiguous with the rst plane surfaces and diagonally related to the first plane surfaces. v l

, ANGELO B. CASTAGNOLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le o f this patent:

` UNITED STATES PATENTS Number OTHER REFERENCES Reid, Homer A., Concrete and Reinforced Con.- crete Construction (1907), The Myron C; Clark Publishing Co., New York, page 582, Fig. 414. 

